First Time Dog Owner? 5 Things You Need To Know

No matter if you are young or old, getting a dog for the first time can be exciting as well as overwhelming. There is so much to learn and do with your new pet. Before picking up your pooch, it is a good idea to do a lot of research so that you know what to expect.

You already know that you need to pick up dog dishes, a dog bed, food, and toys of course. But food and fun aren’t all you need to think about. There is so much more to owning a dog. You may also want to pick up a book on how to properly train your new pet.

Read Your Dog’s Body Language

When you get your new dog home, spend some time just watching him and learn how he reacts to new things and people. Knowing your dog’s body language will go a long way to helping you learn what stresses your dog out enough to react in a visible way. Also know that interpreting these signals from your dog can come with a learning curve, but as you get to know your pet it will become easier.

Be Consistent With Training

When you are trying to train your dog, it is important to stay consistent. Your dog will never learn proper behavior if sometimes something is okay, while other times it’s not. For example, if you want your dog to learn not to get on the couch, then you should never allow him on the couch. He’ll get confused with the mixed signals otherwise.

Also, when it comes to training, make it fun for both you and your pet. If you don’t you’ll stop before your dog has learned anything, and your dog will get frustrated and act out even more. Dogs get bored just like humans do, and they have even less of an attention span. So, with that in mind keep training sessions to maybe 30 minutes or so a day.

Socialize Your Dog

It is vitally important to socialize your dog as early as possible. Socializing means introducing your dog to as many people, places, and things in a positive manner as you can. This way they don’t freak out when new people come over, or they have to go somewhere, such as the vet. It is also a good idea to get them used to other dogs. If possible, take them to a dog park as often as you can.

Giving Your Dog Exercise

Take your dog for a good, long walk at least once a day. It will do both you and your pet a world of good. This is especially true when your dog is a puppy. They have a lot of energy pent up in their little bodies and they need a safe way to expend it. Also, different breeds need different levels of activity. Do some research on your dog’s breed so you know how much exercise and stimulation they need.

Giving Them Supplements

You may want to think about giving your dog supplements if they become too anxious while you are away, or when they are in an unavoidable stressful situation. AHO offers CBD oil for dogs that can help keep them calm and relax them when they are stressed. It has been shown that CBD oil can be beneficial for both dogs and cats to help soothe them and gives other great benefits as well, such as relieving allergies and arthritis, seizures, and skin problems.

About the author

Jayvee Fernandez

Jayvee Fernandez is a tech enthusiast, EAN certified SCUBA Diver and underwater photographer based in Metro Manila, Philippines. His photos and videos have appeared in various international and local publications including Random House Germany, Discovery Channel Canada, and CNN.